NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (TSU News Service) – State
lawmakers got a taste of Tennessee State University’s excellence at the annual
TSU Day at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Visitors to the TSU Day on the Capitol check out displays at the daylong event. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)

More than 150 TSU
students, administrators, faculty, staff and others packed a conference
room on the 8th flor of the Cordell Hull Building to hear TSU
President Glenda Glover kick-off the event. Before the official kick-off,
lawmakers saw displays of the university’s diverse research and academic
offerings, including robotics and giveaways like White Dogwood trees grown on
the university farm, that has become a prized and highly requested staple
during the annual visits.

“I am so pleased to see our lawmakers, along with our students, our faculty our staff, our alumni and friends. Thank you for joining us,” Glover said. “This is our seventh annual TSU Day at the Capitol. This event has become one of the institution’s most successful outreach programs. We take this opportunity to share with the lawmakers the great things that are going on at TSU, and to share with them our needs, as we continue the proud legacy of training and nurturing our future – our students.”

Before the kick-off,
President Glover made courtesy visits to the offices of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally
(R-Crossville) and several key members of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Student ambassadors also used the time to deliver packages of TSU mementos to
the offices of lawmakers, as tokens of appreciation from the university.

Among many displays at the TSU Day at the Capitol, researchers in the College of Health Sciences demonstrate the use of the Vest Airway Clearance System, a therapy designed to assist patients who have thick secretions, such as in cystic fibrosis. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)

In her speech, Glover told the lawmakers that past and future appropriations have allowed TSU to maintain its longstanding legacy of “providing education for our students.”

“Thank
you for being a part of this day and for money you have given us,” she said.
“However, we have some tremendous needs. So, we are here asking you to help us
meet those needs. We want to improve our campus’ age-old infrastructure, we
need scholarships for students, we need to make sure that electricity is in
order for next year.”

Several
of the lawmakers followed Glover with greetings and congratulations to TSU and
its leaders for the “great work going
on at TSU.”

“I appreciate you all being here today,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton said. “We are going to work well to make sure that we move Tennessee forward and keep doing the things we can agree on, such as education.”

TSU alums Sen.
Brenda Gilmore, and Rep. Harold M. Love, Jr., two strong supporters of the
university, promised to keep TSU at the top of the agenda.

“I am so happy to
see you all up here. It means the world to me,” Gilmore said. “As you
(students) walk these halls and meet the legislators, tell them about your
studies and what you plan to do when you graduate. That helps us as we work
hard to get your rightful funding.”

Love
added: “It does our heart well to see our students, faculty, staff and alumni
here with us on Capitol Hill. We need your voice to move TSU. So, I encourage
you to keep telling us what needs to be changed in policy.”

In an
oratorical presentation, Mr. TSU Damyr Moore moved lawmakers with a call for
proportionate funding for HBCUs, arguing that the matrix used to determine
funding, such as retention, enrollment and on-time degree completion, are not the
best indicators by which to measure HBCUs.

“I
propose proportionate funding for HBCUs and PWIs, or predominantly white
institutions, alike, as well as increase funding for scholarships and funding
for pre-college summer bridge programs,” said Moore, a senior mass communication
major from Atlanta.

Also making remarks was Katelyn Thompson, president of the TSU Student Government Association. Among other lawmakers who spoke at the ceremony were Reps. Antonio Parkinson (District 98) and Barbara Cooper (District 86), a TSU alum.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s
only public university, and is a premier, historically black university
and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s
degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive
research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a
graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd
Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to
excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality
education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as
alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the
University online at tnstate.edu.

Members of the Pre-Alumni Council and officials of the Office of the Alumni Relations and Annual Giving grace the red carpet at the first annual Great Gatsby Ball. (Submitted Photo)

Organized by the
Pre-Alumni Council, the students used the very elegant and elaborate first
annual Great Gatsby Ball in Elliott Hall on the main campus Friday evening to
kick-off various programs planned to raise funds for the campaign.

“This is one of our many opportunities to give back to this institution,” said Jeffrey Thomas, Jr., a senior fashion and merchandising major from Nashville, who is also president of the Pre-Alumni Council.

TSU students are all smiles as the enjoy the evening entertainment at the Great Gatsby Ball. (Submitted Photo)

“This formal
event, with live band, dinner and a host, is an opportunity to get students to
meet in a formal setting, interact with alumni, and to energize them for this
great campaign launched by President (Glenda) Glover.”

In a historic,
long-term partnership with the Nashville Predators, TSU announced the
campaign on Feb. 2 to raise $1 million during Black History Month for student
scholarships. Since then, activities have included a “TSU Night” at the
Bridgestone Arena, with appearances by the Aristocrat of Bands and the New
Direction Gospel Choir, as well as a Big Blue Old School Concert at the Gentry
Complex.

Dwight Beard, right, President of the Nashville Chapter of the TSU National Alumni Association, talks to two TSU students at the ball. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)

According to
officials, the Great Gatsby Ball, themed after the “Roaring
Twenties Costumes” and fashion era, gives the university the opportunity to
showcase students – how to dress up and socialize and network in a professional
manner.

“It is an opportunity to teach them about being in their circle but yet dignified and representing themselves well,” said Cassandra Griggs, director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. “It’s all about branding yourself. So, having alums and students having fun together is just an exciting evening for us.”

Clara Hyde, left, and Annie Kinzer were among several TSU alums who joined students at the Great Gatsby Ball. (Submitted Photo)

Amid the pomp,
glitz and glamour, fitted with a red carpet entrance, interviews and
photographing, the students said the ball was something they will not soon
forget, because for some, it made up for lost time.

Elijah Poston’s
date missed out on her high school prom, the sophomore biology major from
Cincinnati said.

“She did not have
a prom experience in high school and this gave her an opportunity to dress up and
be escorted like it would have been on a prom night,” said Poston, a
scholarship recipient from the Cincinnati Alumni Chapter of the TSU National
Alumni Association. “I am glad to be by her side at this very elegant program.
This is a great cause and I am going to do all I can to help. That scholarship
has helped me immensely.”

The sumptuous dinner at the ball was prepared by Nashville’s own Catering Concepts by Timothy. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)

During this month,
Poston is volunteering with the Honors College to call out to alumni to
contribute to the $1 Million in 1 Month campaign.

Deseree Hill, a
freshman social work major from Birmingham, Alabama, did not need a scholarship
to come to TSU, but she is excited about helping to raise funds to keep other
students in school.

“I am glad to be
here tonight, have fun and at the same time help in this very worthy cause,” Hill
said.

The Julius Genius Fisher Band provides entertainment at the first annual Great Gatsby Ball. (Photo by Michael McLendon, TSU Media Relations)

Among alumni at
the ball was Dwight Beard, a Nashville/Davidson County businessman, who is also
president of the Nashville Chapter of the TSUNAA. He described the ball as
“very beautiful and elegant.”

“This is how we want
to teach our students to be professional when they go to the corporate world or
in their various career fields,” said Beard.
“They will be going into a lot of places like this. By them
participating in this campaign teaches them to give back. This is a start,
because once they leave and become successful, they will come back and give to
the school that gave them their foundations.”

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s
only public university, and is a premier, historically black university
and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s
degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive
research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a
graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd
Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to
excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality
education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as
alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the
University online at tnstate.edu.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU
News Service) – Five TSU students are now members of the prestigious Minority Student
Fellows Program of the National Transportation Research Board, or TRB.

Kahlil Andrews, a graduate student in civil engineering, presents his research at the TRB annual conference in Washington, D.C. (Submitted Photo)

The students, from
the Colleges of Engineering, and Public Service, were recently accepted into
the program at the TRB’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This followed the acceptance
of technical papers the students presented from research conducted late last
year.

“Representing my university
in the Transportation Research Board Minority Fellows Program was one of the
most wonderful and involving experiences I’ve ever had,” said KeAnna Dakwa, a sophomore
civil engineering major from Huntsville, Alabama. Dakwa’s research was on “Analyzing
Traffic Circles as They Pertain to Crash Severity.”

Tyler Thompson, a senior urban studies major from Naperville, Illinois, who presented on “After the Referendum: Fixing Traffic in Nashville, TN,” said he was honored to be accepted as a fellow of the TRB program because of the opportunities it affords him.

Dr. Kimberly L. Triplett

“I
enjoyed my experience at the TRB annual meeting,” Thompson said. “I was able to
network with people who are in the same field of study as myself, while sharing
my research with people from all over the country.”

Other TSU
students who were accepted into the TRB Minority Fellows Program were:
Cam’Ron McKinney, sophomore civil engineering major from Cleveland; Dominique
Wallace, senior civil engineering major; and Kahlil Andrews, who is pursuing his
master’s degree in civil engineering.

Dr. Kimberly L. Triplett, associate professor of
urban studies in the College of Public Service; and Dr. Deo Chimba, associate
professor of civil engineering in the College of Engineering, accompanied the
students as advisors.

A program unit of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the
TRB annual conference promotes innovation and progress in transportation through
research. The Minority Student Fellows
Program, established in 2010, actively explores research, ideas, and solutions
from diverse perspectives with the goal of increasing the number of
underrepresented minorities in the transportation field.

The new members of the Minority Student Fellows Program and one of their professors attend a reception in Washington, D.C. Pictured from left are: KeAnna Dakwa, Kahlil Andrews, Dr. Deo Chimba, Cam’Ron McKinney, Tyler Thompson and Domnique Wallace. (Submitted Photo)

According to Chimba and Triplett, the
TSU students and new TRB fellows applied classroom theory to transportation problems in their
research, got critical exposure to the range of transportation issues, and
gained the ability to improve research writing skills.

“This program has boosted and exposed TSU underrepresented civil
engineering minorities to the transportation field and TRB activities,” Chimba
said.

Triplett added that participating
in the TRB program has motivated non-civil engineering students to find their
place in the transportation industry as urban planners.

“Participation in this program will continue to encourage student
growth at TSU in urban planning within the transportation field and in TRB
activities,” said Triplett, adding that previous TSU students have received
employment in the transportation field through their participation in the TRB
program.

This year’s TSU students received sponsorships from the
Tennessee Department of Transportation, TRB and the Federal Highway
Administration.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s
only public university, and is a premier, historically black university
and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s
degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive
research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a
graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd
Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to
excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality
education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as
alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the
University online at tnstate.edu.

The book signing was sponsored by TSU’s Avon Williams Library and the National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc.

Rayford, who was recently crowned Moth Story Hour Nashville
Grand Slam Champion, has been featured at TEDx and on National Public Radio, as
well as in the Wall Street Journal, HuffPo, and USA Today.

“This book is a tool to help us activate or sharpen the
necessary attributes that we need to elevate to our highest selves,” said
Rayford, also known as Rashad Tha Poet. “How can we add value to other people
if we haven’t first acknowledged the value within ourselves?”

His company, Elevate Your Vibe, LLC, is a nontraditional speaking company that blends spoken word poetry, and inspirational speaking to help businesses tell more compelling and concise stories.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s
only public university, and is a premier, historically black university
and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s
degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive
research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a
graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd
Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to
excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality
education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as
alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the
University online at tnstate.edu.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee lawmakers will once again experience
a wave of Tiger Blue at the state Legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Tennessee State University administrators, faculty, students and
alumni will showcase the university’s research and other innovative initiatives
at the annual TSU Day at the Capitol.

TSU President Glenda Glover will kick-off the event with a ceremony at 11 a.m. on the eighth floor of the Cordell Hull Building. TSU visitors will have a chance to meet with lawmakers, who will see displays from some of the school’s various colleges and departments, also on the eighth floor.

Robotics, White Dogwood trees, and research presentations will
be among the university’s diverse academic offerings.

Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of TSU’s College of Engineering,
says TSU Day at the Capitol is “always an exciting day for TSU.”

“It
allows us to display Tennessee’s investment in higher education, and the great
things that are happening here at TSU,” says Hargrove.

Rep. Harold Love, Jr., a TSU alum whose district includes the
university, agrees.

“With
the amount of students that TSU educates every year, it’s important to let
legislators know the impact of that TSU education,” says Love. “It’s always
good to have universities come and advocate on behalf of themselves, but also
have alums come down and validate that their degrees from Tennessee State has
caused them to be where they are in their particular field.”

This year, TSU Day at the
Capitol takes place during a historic, long-term partnership between the university and
the Nashville Predators hockey team to raise $1 million during Black History
Month for student scholarships, and more.

The
Predators organization made the first donation to the campaign, as well as an
additional $100,000 of in-kind assets to help spread awareness to the
initiative.

Money
raised from the campaign will provide both merit-based and need-based
scholarships for TSU students. Approximately 500 scholarships will be awarded
to students in an average amount of $2,000. About 90 percent of TSU students
receive some form of financial aid.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands drumline and New Direction Gospel Choir headlined “TSU Night” at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday. The event kicked off a historic, long-term partnership between the university and the Nashville Predators to raise $1 million during Black History Month for student scholarships, and more.

“This is an exciting
night for TSU,” said TSU President Glenda Glover in a live broadcast before the
Predators’ game against the Vegas Golden Knights. “This is a time to raise $1
million in one month for our students, our need-based students, our merit-based
students. These are amazing students with promising careers, and we need to do
our best to help them graduate and go on to make the best contributions to
society.”

The choir
performed the national anthem, and the drumline entertained Predators’ fans
before the game and throughout it.

Fan Kenny Scribner
said he saw the Aristocrat of Bands perform at football games and was looking
forward to seeing the drumline. He also thinks the partnership between TSU and the
Predators is a good idea.

“Anytime you help
the students it’s a good deal,” Scribner said.

TSU and the
Predators announced their partnership on Thursday. The Predators organization
made the first donation to the campaign, as well as an additional $100,000 of
in-kind assets to help spread awareness to the initiative.

Money raised from
the campaign will
provide both merit-based and need-based scholarships for TSU students.
Approximately 500 scholarships will be awarded to students in an average amount
of $2,000. About 90 percent of TSU students receive some form of financial aid.

The university and
the Predators will also work together on providing internships.

“With
the help of the most passionate fan base in all of sports and the Nashville
Predators organization, we are proud to partner with Tennessee State University
on this life-changing education initiative,” Predators President and CEO
Sean Henry said Thursday. “When you combine two great things – the
education of the next generation with our passionate fan base, we know that
strong goals seem to be more achievable, and that’s what we are hoping to do
with this campaign.”

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University, under the
leadership of President Glenda Glover, has launched an aggressive campaign to
raise $1 million in one month for student scholarships beginning February 1, to
kick off Black History Month. TSU, Nashville’s only four-year public
institution, is teaming up with the Nashville Predators hockey team to help
them reach the winning goal.

The funds will provide both merit-based and need-based
scholarships for TSU students. Approximately 500 scholarships will be awarded
to students in an average amount of $2,000. About 90 percent of TSU students
receive some form of financial aid.

Today, the university held a press conference featuring
President Glover, the Predators’ leadership and members of the TSU family to
share information about the campaign and partnership.

“Tennessee State University is proud to launch this
campaign to give students access to the funds they need to stay in school,
graduate, and achieve their dreams,” said President Glover.

“Many students are not able to complete their degrees because of
financial hardship, so these funds are very important. We’re excited to have
the support of the Predators, and we look forward to contributions from our
alumni, friends, and the community to support these TSU students, our leaders
of tomorrow.”

February also marks the NHL’s “Hockey Is For Everyone” initiative. Predators CEO and President Sean Henry said the team’s partnership with TSU is ideal as the university looks to provide scholarships for deserving students. And he said the organization has long-term plans for the TSU- Predators partnership beyond the $1 Million In 1 Month campaign.

“With the help of the most passionate fan base in all of sports and the Nashville Predators organization, we are proud to partner with Tennessee State University on this life-changing education initiative,” Henry said. “When you combine two great things – the education of the next generation with our passionate fan base, we know that strong goals seem to be more achievable.”

Jamie Isabel, a TSU alum and chairman of the campaign, said the entire university family can be a part of this historic fundraiser.

“I said yes immediately to President Glover when she asked me to
chair the one million dollar, one month campaign that will provide financial
assistance to help students to continue their education,” Isabel said. “It’s
one of the most important responsibilities of an alumnus, and that is you give
back to students following in our footsteps, and for them to pay it forward
when their time comes.”

TSU National Alumni Association President Joni McReynolds agreed with Isabel. She said she knows firsthand how beneficial the campaign will be because of the requests she receives from students about funding.

“I get calls, I get emails at the beginning of every semester with
students asking me as the president of the National Alumni Association, do I
have any resources,” McReynolds said. “So I know the campaign will totally
benefit the students of Tennessee State University that are needing additional
scholarship money.”

TSU junior Joycelyn Barney of Atlanta said she has personally experienced some financial hardships and understands just how important it is to have funds available to help students in need.

“Students come to college to better themselves, to make a difference
in their families,” said Barney, a health sciences major. “So it’s really hard
when you can’t go, or have to come back home, because you don’t have the
money.”

Dr. Glover is not only a strong advocate for TSU’s students,
but also those attending the nation’s other historically black colleges and
universities (HBCUs).

She has a track record of raising millions, in a short
amount of time for the institutions.

As international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated, President Glover has successfully led the sorority in raising one
million dollars in one day for two consecutive years as a part of their HBCU for Life: A Call To Action Initiative. The
initial funds were disbursed to 32 of the 106 HBCUs to establish an endowment.
The second round of the disbursement of funds will take place during the summer
to 32 more HBCUs.

The $1 Million in 1 Month campaign will officially start February
1, with a slate of activities including a TSU Night with the Predators and the
Big Blue Old School Concert that night hosted by TSU Student Affairs. Portions
of the proceeds will go toward the fundraising campaign.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s College of Education has received a $300,000 grant to train 49 aspiring assistant principals in Middle Tennessee school districts.

Dr. Jerri Haynes, Dean of the College of Education, says the college has developed a special program of study to train the aspiring school leaders. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)

The funding from the Tennessee Department Education will be used to conduct a one-year, master’s degree-level training for cohorts from the region, including four of the state’s largest school systems – Metro Nashville Public Schools, Rutherford County Schools, Sumner County Schools and Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.

“This is an
opportunity that Tennessee State University is certainly proud to receive,”
said Dr. Jerri Haynes, dean of the College of Education. “It is a further
recognition of the quality of our programs. It helps to increase our enrollment
and helps fill the void or shortage of assistant principals, especially
minorities.”

According to Haynes, participants in the program are teachers in their various systems who show leadership potential and have been selected by their superintendents or principals to take part in the training. All courses in the program, which is from June 2020 to June 2021, will be offered online. When completed, participants will receive professional licensure as educational leaders.

“We have developed a special program of study for this project,” Haynes said. “We are going to provide them the theory and application, as well as internships and on-the-job training. They will receive university mentors, and we will work to identify mentors at their schools where they work.”

Dr. Eleni Elder, left, Professor of Educational Leadership, holds discussion with graduate students in her school finance class. The course is part of the curriculum for the aspiring assistant principal training program. (Photo by Emmanuel Freeman, TSU Media Relations)

Dr. Kirmanj Gundi is the interim chair of the COE’s Department of Educational Leadership. His department will be primarily responsible for conducting the training, which he called a “remarkable opportunity.”

“When we became
aware of the grant through Dr. Haynes, we had less than 10 business days to
come up with a winning proposal,” Gundi said. “We were successful, thanks to
our leadership and a remarkable team. Getting this grant is another
opportunity for TSU to go out there and put its name out. We have an
outstanding state-approved licensure program, we have great faculty.”

Current TSU students in the educational leadership program talked about the strength of the curriculum and how beneficial it would be in developing the leadership skills of the aspiring assistant principals.

“This program helps build character because it offers a lot of field experiences where we go and directly talk to people and observe what they are doing,” said Pragati Natraj, a first-year graduate student from India majoring in instructional leadership. “We have practical experience, and gaining that knowledge and seeing what leaders are already doing in the field help us reflect on what we should do.”

“I believe this course will benefit the new cohorts by giving them strong hands-on and practical experience they will need as leaders,” said Jones, of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Dr. Terrance
McNeil, assistant professor of educational administration and coordinator of
the training program, said the partnership with the state gives TSU a great
opportunity to “take an active role” in training principals.

“We at TSU believe that we have a great program that can prepare principals in a very unique manner, given our history of educator preparation,” McNeil said. “We already do a great job with educators and all-around teachers, but when you start talking about principals, you are talking about the ability to create leadership and policies that can be implemented for the betterment of the students.”

TSU’s College of Education, which has been recognized as the highest producer of teachers among HBCUs in the nation, has had a long relationship with the Tennessee Department of Education for many years. In October, the college received more than a half million dollars from the department’s Title III program to develop a Global Education Student Support Services Lab to increase student learning across the curriculum.

In 2017, TSU was one of only four applicants out of 18 to receive the Tennessee Innovation in Preparation grant, or TIP. The grants are designed to support an increase in the development of a diverse educator workforce, an increase in the production of educators in high-demand licensure areas, and promote collaboration to improve educator preparation in literacy.

For the assistant principals’ training program, Dean Haynes congratulated the following committee members for their hard work in coming out with a successful proposal that made the grant possible: Dr. Heraldo Richards, associate dean; Dr. Trinetia Respress, assistant dean; Dr. Gundi, department chair; and faculty members: Dr. Carole De Casal, Dr. Eleni Coukos Elder, Dr. McNeil, and Dr. Darren Kennedy.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only
public university, and is a premier, historically black university and
land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24
master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a
comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie
designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams
Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in
McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee
State University provides students with a quality education in a
nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be
global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online
at tnstate.edu.

NASHVILLE,
Tenn.(TSU News Service)
– Tennessee State University recruiters got a chance to talk to some of the
nation’s brightest high school students at the Honda Battle of the Bands
College Fair in Atlanta on Saturday.

Numerous students stopped to talk to TSU officials who had a
booth at the event that was attended by high school students from across the
country. For TSU’s world-renowned Aristocrat of Bands, it was a record ninth
time that the marching band has been invited to the Honda Battle of the Bands
Invitational Showcase.

Aristocrat of Bands performs for 9th time at Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. (Submitted photo)

“We are really glad for this recognition our band continues
to receive with this record appearance,” said Dr. Reginald McDonald, TSU’s
director of bands. “This is a huge recruitment tool for the university because
typically at this event, not only do we have people who are extremely fond of
HBCU bands, you also have high school kids from all across the nation that
attend.”

This time, the band arrived
at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a newly donated, wrapped 53-foot trailer
carrying the members’ equipment.

Named by The Undefeated recently as the Best HBCU Marching
Band in America, the AOB joins only the Marching Storm of Prairie View A&M,
and the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band for the most appearances
at the Honda Invitational, the nation’s premier showcase for HBCU marching
bands.

In addition to the new trailer, the Best Band ranking, and
the Honda Invitational, the AOB enjoyed a stellar year of achievements and
accolades last year, and is looking forward to even more in 2020.

In April, during the NFL Draft in the Music City, the AOB
were featured on the nationally syndicated ESPN sports talk show, First Take, and
the band received a shout out from pop star Lizzo for the band’s rendition
of her “Truth Hurts” medley. In January, percussionists from the band performed
in the Rose Parade. They were also featured performers at the NFL’s Atlanta
Falcons’ 2019 home opener.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

“With the
Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and next man on the moon by
2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than
ever before,” according to the agency’s website.

Stacie Turner is a NASA engineer, as
well as a strategy and collaboration manager with the agency. She said it’s important
for young people, especially minorities, to know about the opportunities that
are available.

“We think that they are going to
be the folks that are going to take over and do the exploring, and the
development of all of NASA’s new technology,” said Turner.

TSU senior Tahmadiyya Dawson of Little Rock, Arkansas, said
talking to the engineers and learning about the Artemis mission was inspiring.

“This has been very beneficial,” said Dawson, who plans to
graduate in May with a degree in chemistry. “They have tons of opportunities.
So it makes me happy to know that I can have a job once I graduate.”

Antoinette Hargrove Duke, associate director of TSU’s Career
Development Center, said the NASA engineers are aware of the talent TSU has to
offer.

“They say in 2024 they want to have a female on the moon, and
we hope it will be someone from here,” said Duke.

Last
year, more than 200 students in grades K-8 from Davidson County and surrounding
areas took part in a NASA-funded, one-day STEM education workshop at Tennessee
State University.

Called “Dare to Dream STEM Saturday,” the workshop engaged
students in scientific experiments, and engineering design processes, such as
robotics, coding, drones, virtual reality, flight simulation and math games.

The TSU College of Education, in partnership with Metro
Nashville Public Schools, hosted the workshop under the Minority University
Research Education Project, or MUREP, a NASA program at the university.

Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees. TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee. With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.